Here’s everything you need to know about the Toyota Urban Cruiser

While most attention is currently directed at the all-new Toyota RAV4, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is also introducing the new Urban Cruiser, its second battery electric vehicle (BEV) offering in our market after the bZ4X.

Based on the Suzuki e Vitara, the Toyota Urban Cruiser is being introduced alongside the all-new RAV4 and updated Corolla Cross GR-S, and is manufactured at the Suzuki Motor Gujarat plant in India, and we have everything you need to know about the new electric subcompact crossover.

Riding on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform, the Urban Cruiser is powered by a single electric motor that produces 174 horsepower and 193Nm of torque. It’s capable of driving up to 475km on a single charge with its 61kWh LFP battery, supported by CCS2 DC and Type 2 AC charging.

In terms of size, the Urban Cruiser slots in at the same level as Yaris Cross subcompact crossover. It measures 4,285mm long, 1,800mm wide, and 1,635mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,700mm. 

Design-wise, the Urban Cruiser gets its own front fascia that wears Toyota’s Hammerhead design language, setting it apart from its Suzuki sibling, and featuring unique C-shaped headlights. The rest of the vehicle—wheel design, rear, and interior—all remain identical to the Suzuki e Vitara.

Standard equipment are LED exterior lighting, 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, a sunroof, synthetic leather+fabric seat upholstery, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a nine-speaker JBL audio system.

It also gets a full suite of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), albeit Suzuki’s. That means it’s equipped with autonomous emergency braking, automatic high beams, adaptive high beams, lane keeping assist, lane departure alert, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

And yes, all of these are standard on the lone GLX variant of the Toyota Urban Cruiser, which comes at a retail price of Php 2,135,000. Competitors? The Toyota Urban Cruiser will be competing directly with the likes of the BYD Atto 3.

What do you think of the Toyota Urban Cruiser?

_{Photos by Sam Surla and Julian Panlilio}